Trip Report

With the promise of a very warm day, twenty-six riders left Shopko parking lot at 8:00 a.m. to explore the last few river miles of the Salmon River. The headwaters of this pristine river begin just south of Timberline Lodge at Trillium Lake, flowing southwest about 35 miles to confluence with the Sandy River. The river flows through some much protected areas of the Mt. Hood National Forest. Most of the river can only be seen via hiking trails or kayaking and to kayak the river a permit must be obtained. As we had several folks using walkers or canes this left exploring that part of the river out for us. The Wildwood area is located just west of Welches off Highway 26. Traveling in a scenic area aboard a 45 ft. bus high off the ground gives one a sense of relaxation while viewing the countryside over the tops of cars and trucks. The leaders of the trip, Paul & Barb Beard, were amazed that out of the 26 riders no one had been to the Wildwood before, not even the driver. Coffee break was held at the Canby exit, then turning east we wound our way through the foothills of the Cascades, following the Clackamus River, then the Sandy River onto the Salmon River with many views of Mt. Hood in the background. The rolling hills, beautiful Christmas tree farms, golf courses and vineyards gave us a feeling like we might be traveling through Kentucky, Tennessee or South Carolina. (Sorry, Dick – we just didn’t have time for a round of golf.) Our air-conditioned bus kept us cool and comfortable. The cool freshness of the river and huge trees welcomed us with wonderful smells of the lush forest and cool sparkling water cascading over the rocks. The asphalt trails with picnic tables and viewing benches allowed special sights of the river which was a delight for many. We enjoyed our lunch along the river and the fish viewing area of trout and salmon in their natural habitat. On this trip we only found little ones, but where there are little ones, big ones have been there too! Our very diverse group on this trip originated from as far away as Springfield, Mass., to downtown Manhattan, the Bronx, Texas, southern California and lots of places in between. It was great to travel and make friends from so many different places. We all kept cool the entire day in spite of the 99 degree weather. Our elevation variances ranged from 350 to 4,000 ft. Salmon River has a lot to offer; hiking, swimming, wetlands area, walkways with good signage, kayaking for the experienced (suggest you go with a guide). If any of you kayakers make the trip, take pictures as I’m sure we would love to see them. Our last stop was the Bauman Farm at Brooks, this also was a first experience for several riders. We all bought delicious goodies, even Obsidian berries – specially grown by Bauman Farms. They are absolutely delicious, try some next time you are shopping at Bauman’s in June or July.